11,362 Syrian refugees were registered in January, bringing the total number of Syrian refugees registered to 1,155,660. 12,130 people are currently waiting registration with the waiting time standing at 20 days. The number of refugees registered in January was 15% lower than the number of refugees registered in December 2014 (13,390). In January 2014, more than 52,000 refugees were registered.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of 23 February 2015, the cumulative total of suspected, probable and confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Liberia stood at 9,265, with 4,057 related deaths.

Case incidence declined from a peak of over 300 new confirmed cases per week in August and September 2014 to only two new confirmed EVD cases in the past week in Montserrado County.

5,779 children have been identified as directly affected by EVD (3,798 identified by the government and the rest by partner organisations).

· As of 24 February 2015, according to the Government of Sierra Leone, the cumulative number of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) cases is 8,308, with 3,113 deaths. During the past week there were 71 new confirmed cases of EVD.

· The total number of confirmed cases of Ebola went up to 2,762 in week eight, according to WHO’s Epidemiological Situation Report. The total number of confirmed, suspected and probable cases rose to 3,155. The number of deaths resulting from confirmed cases of Ebola climbed to 1,704 and the total number of deaths to 2,091.

The Israeli government’s withholding of an estimated USD 375 million in Palestinian tax revenues it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Government, has led to increased tensions in the State of Palestine. This is jeopardizing the regular provision of public services and exacerbating the tense relations between the Palestinian Government and Hamas over the provision of services in the Gaza Strip.

Children and adults with disabilities face many barriers to full participation in society. This report makes an important contribution to documenting the extent of disability and its impact on people’s lives in Vanuatu.

Through detailed statistical analysis of data collected in Vanuatu’s census, household surveys and education database, the report estimates the prevalence of disability and explores the situation of children, women and men with disabilities with respect to education, employment, poverty, and domestic violence.

For my first article as a child reporter, I decided to introduce you to the Children’s Parliament of North Kivu, of which I am a representative. Children’s participation is low in our county, especially in the East.

JUBA, South Sudan/NAIROBI, Kenya, 28 February 2015 – Scores of children seized by armed men from a village in northern South Sudan two weeks ago remain forcibly recruited as child soldiers, despite intensive efforts to locate and free them.

One week ago UNICEF reported that 89 children preparing for exams were forcibly recruited as child soldiers, but the organization now believes the number of children may be in the hundreds. In addition, adult males were also forcibly recruited during the February 15 and 16 raid.

Forced recruitment and other grave child violations continue. Last week, 89 children were forcibly recruited from Wau Shiluk, however, it is believed that the number may be much higher. Some witnesses have noted that at least some of these children are receiving military training. Reports of forced recruitment in other parts of the country were also received this week and UNICEF and partners are now working to verify the number of children who may have been forcibly recruited and to advocate for their release.

· As of 24 February 2015, 39 cases of cholera have been confirmed by the Ministry of Health, with two deaths. Out of the 39 cases, 5 cases were reported in Mwanza, a district which was not affected by floods, while the rest have been reported in Nsanje.

· UNICEF is a member of the national taskforce on Cholera that has been set up to plan and respond to the outbreak.

A young mother and daughter, survivors of Ebola, demonstrate that surviving – and defeating – the deadly virus is in many ways a community effort.

FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 23 February 2015 – Yeabu Kalokoh, 18, is beaming with smiles as she holds her baby girl, Grace, and gently caresses her. The young mother and her nearly 2-year-old daughter share the terrible ordeal and the good fortune of escaping the deadly grip of the Ebola virus.

Winter storm Jana has affected much of Jordan from 19-21 February. The storm has affected Al Za'atari Refugee Camp and has resulted in flooding in many areas of the camp. There are many instances of damaged shelters, as well as flooded or blocked roads which makes water delivery and other activities difficult. Data collection is being conducted by camp agencies including UNHCR, UNICEF, ACTED, IRD, NRC, and Oxfam. REACH is providing mapping support. Data reflected in this map is as of the day cited, with updated information collected daily.